How to Make Small Talk

Many a time, it happens that when we meet somebody for the first time or when we are at a party where we do not know anybody, we often feel very awkward and are unable to mingle around or start a conversation. At least I have been in this situation myself, a lot of times in my life. Of course now I have changed a lot, have become a lot more confident about myself, and am quite comfortable in my own skin. Generally, people who are shy or lack social skills are the ones who refrain from talking to strangers or sometimes even acquaintances, as they fear that the things they will talk about might not interest the other person, and thus he will be labeled as a bore. Or another reason for this could be low confidence, because of which a person feels very hesitant to even approach anybody. So if these characteristics describe you, and you are looking for some ways to improve your situation, then here are some useful tips for you.

Increase Awareness
A person who does not know what is happening around him, is often at a loss of words, especially when conversing with people in his workplace. So keep yourself updated by reading newspapers, magazines, books and even your office manuals. Once you have a lot of information, you can start conversations with anybody, by discussing whatever you have read.

Practice
If you are the shy types, then even if you have lots of information with you, you might not be able to share or chat about it with others. In order to get over your shyness, practice conversations. Yup! You heard it right. Though initially you may not be very comfortable doing it, but with time you will see your confidence increasing. You can start making small talks with strangers everywhere you go, such as in restaurants, while traveling, with your neighbors and even with small kids. Hosting parties at your place and inviting colleagues and friends over is also a good way to break the ice and also to know them better.

Experiment
Start experimenting with the common things in life such as the food that you eat or even your hobbies. Make it a point to try at least one new restaurant every weekend. Develop some new hobbies which you may have never considered before. Take dance lessons, paint, read literature and poetry, basically do everything that makes you stretch your boundaries.

Be a Good Listener
It is very important to be a good listener. If you have paid attention to what others are saying, then the next time you can start a conversation with them by talking about the same topic. For example if someone has told you that they are visiting a doctor for some problem, you can start a conversation with them by inquiring how they are feeling now or what did the doctor recommend.

Make the First Move
In order to start conversation with people, muster up enough confidence to make the first move. Approach someone who seems friendly. You can start the conversation by saying hi, smiling and introducing yourself. With an instinct the person will respond by introducing himself or herself. Once introductions have been made, you can start talking by asking the person how they know the hosts. When the other person is talking, make eye contact, nod your head and give verbal cues such as "oh really" "that's good" from time to time. If you present a positive body language, any person will enjoy talking to you.

One last and the most important tip, is to be yourself. Do not fake anything or try to be somebody you are not. Be confident, humorous, decent and sound genuine, and there is no reason why people will not want to talk to you or be in your company.